Bambi Linn Fielding McConnell

Our hearts are broken to announce the passing of Bambi F. McConnell. Bambi is the daughter of Reed and Tonya Fielding, sister to Kevin, my spouse of 31+ years, mother to our two children William and Miranda, mother-in-law to Caroline and future guardian angel to the twin girls that are due in September.

Her sudden and unexpected passing was due to the cumulative effect of an autoimmune disease that, over the course of many years, slowly whittled away at her body until the pain, fatigue, countless surgeries and procedures caused her body to shut down toward the end of January. Once that process began, the decline was devastatingly swift as she became weaker and more ill by the day to the point that we requested hospice services March 17th. In her final display of resolute stubbornness (which is legendary), Bambi refused to be hospitalized. She knew her own body so well, knew what was happening and wanted to be at home to see it through. Thankfully, the medications administered through hospice gave her body a chance to rest, for her to sleep and to be relieved of her pain and overwhelming anxiety. She completely understood the circumstances and hoped that the end would come sooner than later. Her wish was granted on Tuesday, April 4th, one week before her 61st birthday.

Bambi spent her first 17 years in Huntsville, Utah attending Valley School from first through ninth grade. She graduated from Weber High School in 1980 where she was an outstanding student and played the alto sax in their band (according to her mom, she chose the sax so she could sit next to the boys!). After graduating she spent the next few years living in Ogden, working at a credit union as a loan officer during the day and waiting tables at night to make ends meet. She loved to go dancing and she and one of her friends that were dance partners won several dance contests during that time.

Her vibrant and adventurous spirit landed her in Wendover, Nevada, where she took a job at the Peppermill Hotel and Casino waiting tables while she learned to deal blackjack, roulette and craps which lead her to becoming a dealer. On her days off, she would make the drive back to Huntsville to stay at Reed and Toni's so she could ski Snowbasin during the winter and camp with friends from the Peppermill and water ski on Pineview reservoir during the summer. She was also an avid scuba diver.

We met on deer hunt weekend in 1990 in the cabaret at the Peppermill. Bambi had come back after her shift to listen to the band and I was sitting with some friends from Salt Lake when she walked past.
When I wondered out loud, who that stunning woman was, my friend Rick said – oh that's Bambi! She's a dealer here and the most fun of any of them. I excused myself, went and sat next to her at the bar, ordered a drink, introduced myself and we're living proof that the thunderbolt can strike two people at the exact same time; it was mutually love at first sight. Yep, I went to Wendover on deer hunt weekend and got myself a Bambi (did not have to strap her to the hood of my car). Six months later we were engaged and were married the following October 5th, 1991 in Park City, Utah.

We have lived in Sandy, Utah since then. Bambi worked for Morris Air, at Utah Bank Note as a salesperson, then began her own appraisal business, The McConnell Group, which she ran until the housing market crash in 2008. On weekends during the holidays, Bambi also worked for Casino Games so she could continue to enjoy her amazing skills as a dealer at Christmas functions, business get- togethers and house parties. She worked through the night on appraisals so she could be a homeroom mom to Bill and Miranda, a kid taxi to practices all over the Sandy area, and Bambi never missed an activity, game or performance for either child. We traveled in our RV to many Utah campgrounds on a regular basis, camped with her uncles and cousins at family reunions at the Eagles, Crystal Hot Springs, and in Mantua, as well as took family vacations to Glacier, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower and the Black Hills. Her dutch oven chicken and camper's goulash breakfast were her specialties.

After appraising, she worked part time at a jewelry retail vendor until 2012-13 when she enrolled at Salt Lake Community College and became a Certified Medical Assistant. She worked in the IHC float pool for four years and finished her last year working in the urology clinic next to the IMC hospital in Murray. In 2019, her health issues made it too difficult to work anymore. She was able to focus her energy on taking care of our house and yard (which she'd always done). Her flower beds and pots, hummingbird feeders, water features, yard art, bird baths and feeders, vegetable and rose gardens, and her pride and joy – the waterfall and fish pond, became her therapy.

Her yard in its full glory was something to behold. It was her (our) sanctuary to sit and enjoy together on the back deck. Over the last several years, something would have give, because she no longer had the physical strength or stamina to take proper care of the yard in its entirety. Fewer flowers planted, no more vegetable garden or hanging plants, and just last month she told me to give away the fish, and stop feeding the birds…and that's when I knew she was going to be leaving me very soon.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to have Bambi as a friend, classmate, neighbor, colleague, or was able to associate with her for any length of time understood what an amazing person she was. A tenacious and loyal worker, who was so thoughtful and compassionate, always thinking of helping others, quick to laugh and always out to have fun and bring joy to others. My feisty redhead – the love of my life, our extraordinary mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, and friend has left us empty by her departure. Too soon, way too soon and just so unfair at such a young age. We all cherish, love and adore her – and yes, she will live on in all of us and we'll find joy in our memories of how she touched our lives.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building.